Formal letters have been sent to the Westchester County Board of Elections, the Westchester District Attorney’s Office, and the Chair of the Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee, calling for the immediate removal and investigation of Democratic District Leader Kenny Plummer.
We at Black Westchester recently reported on the questionable activities involving Kenny Plummer, developer Rella Fogliano, and the Political Action Committee Rise Up Mount Vernon. Our investigation uncovered a troubling pattern of political influence and financial maneuvering, including sizable developer donations funneled through party structures and PACs that appear designed to secure control over Mount Vernon elections. These activities raise serious concerns about transparency, conflicts of interest, and whether campaign finance laws are being deliberately circumvented to serve private development agendas under the guise of political progress.
The letters allege that Plummer does not legally reside in the district he represents, in direct violation of New York State Election Law § 1-104(22). Although Plummer admitted via text message that he maintains a lease and pays utilities in Mount Vernon, the letters state that the apartment is actually subleased and occupied by someone else. Witnesses claim Plummer resides full-time in a privately owned home in White Plains with his wife and child, raising questions about his legal right to serve as District Leader for Mount Vernon.
Under New York State law, residency for political office is defined by actual domicile—not by lease agreements or utility payments. Domicile is legally understood as the place a person intends to make their fixed and permanent home. It is the place one returns to regularly and where their spouse and family live. Therefore, even if Plummer holds a lease and pays bills in Mount Vernon, if his true home base is in White Plains with his family, then White Plains is his legal domicile, making him ineligible to serve as District Leader in Mount Vernon.
This isn’t just a technical oversight, the letters argue—it’s a manipulation of the democratic process. Plummer has allegedly continued to participate in party strategy, vote on candidate endorsements, and wield influence over city elections while misrepresenting his residency. The complaint also accuses him of being directly involved in political fundraising and lobbying activities that benefit real estate developers connected to city officials.
Developer Funds Funneled Through Party Committee
According to statements made by Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee Chair Mary Graves, Plummer played a key role in steering a political contribution from developer Rella Fogliano to the City Committee for Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard.
The question being raised is critical: Why didn’t developer Rella Fogliano donate the funds directly to the mayor’s campaign? Why was the money given to the Democratic City Committee first? And why was Plummer negotiating campaign finance deals?
This circuitous transaction raises serious concerns about campaign finance transparency and potential alleged money laundering tactics within local party politics. The implication is that using the City Committee as an intermediary could obscure the true source and intent of the funds, especially if the developer has business interests that depend on city approvals or favorable political relationships.
Is This Legal?
While political party committees are legally allowed to contribute to candidates, using the party as a pass-through to disguise the original donor could potentially violate New York Election Law §14-120, which prohibits conduit contributions (also known as straw donations). Additionally, if there was coordination between Plummer, the developer, and the candidate, or if the donation was made to gain influence over city decisions, it may constitute:
- Honest services fraud under 18 U.S. Code § 1346
- False statements under 18 U.S. Code § 1001
- Campaign finance violations related to undisclosed or coordinated contributions
- Conflict of interest or pay-to-play violations under state ethics laws
The key legal issues center on intent, transparency, and benefit: Was this structure used to avoid disclosure rules, exceed legal contribution limits, or reward favorable treatment?
Pattern of Misconduct and Internal Party Knowledge
The letters also highlight the case precedent established by the 2023 resignation of former Westchester County Legislator Chris Johnson, who was forced to step down after an investigation confirmed he no longer resided in his district. Johnson had subleased the address listed on his official filings and was living elsewhere—mirroring the allegations now facing Plummer. The Democratic Party supported Johnson’s removal at the time, reinforcing that such violations must be treated seriously and consistently.
Even more troubling, current Mount Vernon District Leaders are reportedly willing to testify that it was well known within Democratic circles that Kenny Plummer did not live in Mount Vernon. Despite this, he was allowed to retain his District Leader position and use his votes to support candidates who, in turn, would support projects tied to his personal or developer interests. This creates a closed-loop system of political power and private benefit that undermines the integrity of the local electoral process.
Let’s not forget that Kenny Plummer already has a documented history of unethical conduct. In 2012, the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) found that Plummer, then acting as president of DiRA Consulting, violated the Lobbying Act by failing to register and submit required bimonthly lobbying reports while lobbying on behalf of real estate interests in Mount Vernon. He admitted to those violations and was fined $2,000. Now, over a decade later, Plummer is once again facing allegations of operating as an unregistered lobbyist—this time to secure state funding for development projects. These actions may represent a continued pattern of illegal lobbying activity and could constitute new violations of state lobbying and ethics laws. A formal complaint regarding these recent activities has already been filed with JCOPE for review.
Possible Legal Violations Under New York State Law:
- Election Law § 1-104(22): Misrepresentation of legal residence for elected party office
- Penal Law § 175.30: Offering a false instrument for filing (e.g., voter registration, candidate filings)
- Public Officers Law / General Municipal Law § 805-a: Conflict of interest and improper use of public office for private gain
- Election Law § 17-104: Misconduct involving election-related filings or actions under false pretenses
Possible Federal Violations:
- 18 U.S. Code § 1346 – Honest Services Fraud: Misuse of public position to benefit private developer interests
- 18 U.S. Code § 1001 – False Statements: False or misleading information on official or federally regulated documents
- 18 U.S. Code § 371 – Conspiracy to Defraud the United States: Coordination to undermine federal oversight or campaign finance regulations
- Federal Election and Campaign Law Violations: Potential funneling of money through intermediaries to evade federal limits or disclosure
Escalation to Federal Authorities
The letters also make it clear that all documentation—including Plummer’s text message, witness accounts, and the questionable campaign finance arrangement—will be submitted to U.S. Attorney Pamela Bondi and the U.S. Department of Justice for potential federal investigation.
The justification: corruption in Mount Vernon has historically been overlooked, allowing political operatives to operate unchecked while working-class taxpayers and residents suffer the consequences. Furthermore, the Westchester County Democratic Party has no history of policing itself with integrity—its failures and abuses of power have often been met with silence from county and state authorities, who have repeatedly turned a blind eye to lawlessness within their own ranks.
This pattern of selective enforcement and institutional protectionism has only deepened public distrust—and, according to the letters, it’s long past time for outside agencies to step in.
As of this publication, no public responses have been issued by the Board of Elections, the District Attorney’s Office, or the City Committee.
Black Westchester will continue to follow this developing story.
Check out the June 2025 Pre-Primary Issue of the newspaper hitting the streets this week. You can read the digital edition here.
